Liquid cooling apparatus



'May 26, 1953 l H. G. MoJoNNlER 2,639,591

` LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS Filed April 29. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 26, 1953 H. G. MoJoNNlER LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1948 charged.

Patented May 26, 1953 LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS Harry G. Mojonnier, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Mojonnier Bros. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 29, 1948, Serial No. 24,012

l2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to heat exchange apparatus, and concerns particularly apparatus for cooling syrup and the like in conjunction with bottling operations.

In the bottling of carbonated beverages, it is desirable to cool the carbonated water in connection with the carbonation thereof, so as to increase the absorption of the carbon dioxide gas into the water, and reduce the required carbonating pressures in reference to the degree of carbonation required.

In conventional filling apparatus, it is customary to first insert a desired quantity of ilavoring syrup into each bottle to be lled, and then add the carbonated Water, and eiect a mixing with the syrup, to produce the desired quantity of beverage within the bottle. In instances wherein the carbonated Waterhas been precooled, which is desirable for the reasons above discussed, as the cooled water strikes the warmer flavoring syrup, a boiling or foaming takes place which slows down the filling operation, and frequently results in non-uniform filling of the bottles to be Also, the foaming results in loss of carbon dioxide gas, which in turn requires -a higher degree of precedent carbonation, entailing higher carbonating pressures, higher equipment costs, and like factors.

In accordance with the present invention means and methods are provided for effecting a precooling of the syrup, prior to its contact with the carbonated Water and in connection with the bottling operations, and specically such cooling is effected, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, so as to correlate the degree of cooling imparted to the syrup in respect to the cooling imparted to the carbonated Water, so as to minimize foaming and facilitates the bottle lling operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling apparatus, specifically for ilavoring syrup, and the like, of improved construction and improved operating characteristics.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in connection with bottling operations of the type set forth, improved means and methods for effecting a correlated cooling of flavoring syrup, in reference to the carbonated water or other ingredients with which the syrup is to be mixed in connection with the filling operations; whereby to facilitate and improve the filling more particularly in reference to the speed, accuracy and ease with which the filling operations may be effected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved cooling apparatus, specically for flavoring syrup as hereinbefore set forth, but also of general application, wherein an improved metering of the uid to be cooled through the apparatus is effected, wherein an improved controlled fluid flow through the apparatus results,` and wherein the parts are arranged in an improved manner to facilitate sanitation and cleaning.

Still another improvement provided by the present invention is the use of a pressure gas, preferably the same gas with which the other liquid components of the system are to be charged, for effecting the ejection of the cooled liquid medium from the cooling apparatus.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specication when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein certain preferred embodiments are set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. i is a general assembly view of a refrigeration system including cooling apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a View generally similar to Fig. l, but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the syrup cooling apparatus or unit, forming a part of the assemblies of Figs. 1 and 2; y

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view of the structure of Fig. 3 on the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure of Fig. 3 taken as indicated by the line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a partial detail view, more particularly illustrating the liquid distributing caps for the tubes, and taken as indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional View of the structure, on the line 1 1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of one of the distributing caps, and its associated pipe or conduit, taken as indicated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional View of an orifice device, forming a part of the structure.

In the drawings, the invention has been illustrated as incorporated into a. refrigeration system for cooling the syrup and other components in connection with bottle or container filling operations, a use to which the invention is particularly adapted and has special application. It is to be understood, however, that the various features of the invention, including the structural aspects of the cooling unit hereinafter to be particularly described, may be employed in various types. of installations, and for various uses, wherein such features have applicability and may be desired.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and first to the structural embodiment illustrated Fig. l, the system 'shown orm'pris'esa compressor I0, for refrigerant, driven fromha motol- |2 through suitable drive connections |4. The refrigerant is transmitted from thecom-I pressor to a condenser I6 and thence toan evaporator structure, or cooling" unit, V'as'indi'iated-'by the reference numeral I8.

This cooling unit is preferably of the type fully set forth and described in the'bbpendin'g application of Harry G. Mojonnier and Bernard G. McGovern, Serial No. 671,650, filed "May 22, 1946, now issued as Patent No. 2,519,845, dated iiigust'Q- 1950. 'Thee/cooling unit 18 comprises inlet 2|) for the liquid to be cooled, which' is vv riiin the installation 'f Fig. 1. Passage' of lt ater throughthe linlet is controlled by {idee/liscia valve 22, the' Water 'passing ilu/elk an rupper 'header dome, 24 Within 4which it is disvr'i'lribui'fed and'caused to pas'sdoWnWa-rdly through a series of parallel cooling tubes mounted 'Wltlliai'shell 'creasing 26, to be collected in a header :doreY 2T, as lmore particularly `d e 'bedi' said Mjoflhier and McGovern applilti'n. ,Ffoiny the Vlower header the cooled Water "passs thriighlan outlet conduit 28, under control of a valve 3|), toa bottle filling apparatus ALir'iiirsle for the 'type' 'more 'per'tieularly illustrated in the repen-ding application of Harry G. vMeifumier, 'seri-e1 Ne. 577,959, ysled February 15, 49H15, `Within tue -lllngepparatus bottles may be lled in rapid` sequence, the bottles bingii'rst *charged with flavoringsyrup to-'a 'predetermined amount, aii'd'then further filled with carbonated 'vit'rt the `instar'ce vof carbonated beverages, 's' Awill'V more particularly hereinafter i appear.

The refrigerant passesfrom the condenser 'I6 to the evapc'l-ratorV or'c'ooling 'unit I8 through a cndu-i't' under control-of alsolenoi'd actuated 'i'flw 36, the controlling Solenoid 38 of Which may be arranged for control by the bottle filling blii '32 so' that th'ev'alve 36'18 open to'ortilllate refrigerant only 'during such time that the llingil'nachlne'nis in'operation. The re- '-frigrnt is introducedinto the evaporator IB by intensief-en injector 4o, the refrigerant passing site, es will presently be deseribed. The refrigerant passes "upwardly through hie tank structure 52 and is exhausted through a conduit 56 "''onnecting with the return line 42 on the forjWard side'of vthe back pressure valve 44 so that in effect the conduit 56 is in communication with the jlifpfl'ler'fend 'of the evaporator or tank struc- Vhilft la.

The liqil-i'd lto be'cooled Within the cooling unit 52, .favoringfsyrup in the embodiment shown,

passes from a storage tanl; 58 which may be disposed 'at any suitable location, to an auxiliary tank 6l! through a conduit 62 under propulsion flhefauxlli'ary tank is provided witha float/66 and float "switch 68 forcontrolling the actionA of the pump 64, so that the syrup will be maintained at-a predetermined 'level 'l0 vJithin'the-'auxiliary tankstructure at all-times. From the-auxiliary tank the'syrup flows byfgravity through a vcon- 'duit "12 v'provided with a'valve 13, 'and passes j'do'wrwardly through the -t'ank to -a reservoir 14, being 'cooled in the process as'willl-presently --be described. From the reservoir 14 the cooled syrup 'passes through Aa conduit 16, providedwith a 'shut 'off 'valve 1B, Ato the 'filling machine. Nor- "l'nally 'the'valves 13 and 'I8v are fully open., the 'frate ofsy-rup 'flow through'the 'cooling unit 52 being "controlled by `automatic ow metering lineenanisrn provided therein, as hereinafter described. Within the vfilling machine the syrup is introduced, in predeterrriinedl quantity, linto .the bottles or Yother containers as 4they pass along Ythe inlet conveyor-,iby-means of an-autov'inatic lfilling valve mechanism 19, of a desired suitable-type. The bottles-orvgcontainers then passu to the; carbonatedywater filling station- 8|, Where-the carbonated WaterA is introduced under l "prssureyto complete the vfilling operation,

The structure of the` cooling unit 52 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3-9. vIt willibe seen "that lthe Avalve,structure 'I3 -more specifically coni- @pris'e's avalve member 80 arranged for controlrby 'Ja-handle. 82 so that upon closure of the valve :syrup flowto the tankgstructu-re may bew'shutoff.

With the Avalve open, thesyrupfiows fromnthe valvevcasing inwardly through the vwalls of` a cylindrical strainer 84 andthencev passes through thecentralbore 86 of ha cap member which 4lies yupon jthefupper, end ofa perforated metering tube8. best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this metering tube is provided with aseries lof radially disposedopening'sll through which the syrup `may flow/outwardly into the upstanding neck :portion 920i a cap member '94 clampedtoa head plate SiS-bymeans of a series of hand nuts A seresof pipesortubes |00 have their upper ends extending through the upper head-plate 96, and their' lower ends similarlyextending through a lower head plate v|02 so 'that 'the syrup may *flow* by gravity from the' cap vneck 92 through thet'ubes into-the reservoir '14, previously described. rIhis reservoir 'is formed by a'v cylindrical ca'sing 104,' .preferablyof glass, the upper end-,of

which is anchored to agasket |06 secured-tothe head A:plate l||l2,yand-the loweiyend of; which is 'similarly anchored tol 'a gasket |06 yfixed to-a base presson frigerant is maintained atapredetermined level the 'surge vdrum is connected to the cooler 52a `by means of a conduit 18a-functionally' similar to the conduit 48previously 'described- There- 44a connectingto a return line 42a to the com- Carbon dioxide gas, orf other' gas, is -introduced into the cooler 52a by--rne'ans of= a 'supply line I44a,las Ain the' embodiment] pre- "vio'usly described. Itis-believed that-the operation of the structure of Fig. 2 will be clear, the parts otherwisebeing-the same as previously described'in referenceto Fig. 1.--- v Y It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiments'shown -and described withouty departing from :thespirit." of

'the invention. i vThe-invention is accordinglygnot to be limitedto the particular embodiments shown but only as indicated-'in' the following claims.- i v "The invention is hereby claimedias follows:

f 1. A refrigerating apparatus vcornr'nising a first evaporator unit, means forcirculating water to be cooled therethrough, a second evaporator unit,

'means for circulating syrup-to be cooled therethrough, anda commonrefrigerant systemfeffec ing the cooling of yboth evaporator units, ysaid refrigerant system `includingmeans"lfor propor- Ationing the deliveryV of refrigerant to said evaporator units, and a common back pressure' vvalve for controlling the refrigerant temperature within'said evaporator'unitsf'f' i' 2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a'first coolingunit, means for circulating'water to be -cooled therethrough, a secondcooling unit, means for circulating syrup to" be "cooled therethrough, a`common refrigerant system effecting the cooling ofY both units, means for eifectingthe delivery of` syrup to said-second cooling unit, and 'means to control said delivery means vin accordance with the rategof deliveryof the syrup from said unit.

3. Arefrigerating apparatus comprising aiirst cooling unit, meansfo'r circulatingwater to be cooled therethrough, a second cooling-unit, means for circulating 'syrup to be cooled therethrough,

A'acommon refrigerant system effecting the cooling of both units, a bottleV filling machine, means interconnecting the bottling machine "withvboth said units, and means controlled by the operation of said filling machine for controlling'the delivery of syrup to said second cooling unit. f i

f 4. A refrigerating apparatusv comprising a first cooling unit,` means for-circulating water to be cooled therethrough, a second cooling unit, means for circulating syrup to be cooled therethrough, and a common refrigerant systemeffecting-the kcooling of both units, said refrigerant system` in:

cluding an'injector for the 'first cooling unit, a metering orifice for the second cooling unit, and a common back pressure valve for controlling the refrigerant temperature in both said units.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a first evaporator unit having a plurality of parallel conduits forming cooling passages, means for circulating water to be cooled through said conduits, a second evaporator unit having a' pluralityof parallel conduits forming cooling passages, means Yfor circulating syrup to be cooled through the conduits of said second evaporator unit, a common refrigerant system effecting the cooling of both units, said refrigerant system including means for proportioning the supply of refrigerant -to said units, and a common back pressure valve for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant therein.

6. A cooling unit comprising a conduit for a liquid to be lcooled, a conduit for refrigerant, said conduits being in juxtaposition to facilitate heat transfer therebetween, a reservoir for the cooled liquid, a float in said reservoir, a metering tube having a plurality of Vpassages therein, and a `valve member operated Aby the float, said valve member being effective to close certain of said passages at different levels of liquid in said reservoir whereby to control the iiow of said' liquid through the unit. I

'l'. A cooling unit comprising a tank, a plurality of conduits extending longitudinally therein forming parallel passageways for a liquid to be cooled, a conduit for refrigerant extending 1ongitudinally of the tank, said conduits being'in juxtaposition to facilitate heat transfer between the refrigerant and the liquid to' be cooled, a reservoir for the cooled liquid communicating with said plurality of conduits and receiving the cooled liquid therefrom, and means controlled by the liquid level within said reservoir for controlling the passage of said liquid through said parallel conduits.

8. A beverage bottling apparatus comprising a iirst cooling unit, means for circulating water to be cooled therethrough, means for carbonating said water, a second cooling unit, means for circulating syrup to be cooled therethrough, a common refrigerant system effecting the cooling of both units to cool the carbonated water and the syrup to substantially the same temperature, a bottle filling machine, and means interconnecting said bottle filling machine With both of said units, said interconnecting means serving to deliver the cooledcarbonated water and the cooled syrup to a bottle positioned in said bottle filling machine and to mix said water and said syrup in said bottle.

9. In a bottling-apparatus including a bottle filling machine, a first cooling unit, means for circulating Water to be cooled therethrough, means for carbonating said water, a second cooling unit, means for circulating syrup to be cooled therethrough, a common refrigerant systemyeffecting the cooling of ,both units to cool the carbonated water and the syrup to substantially the same temperature, and means interconnecting the bottle filling machine with both of said units, said interconnecting means serving to deliver the cooled carbonated water and the cooled syrup to a bottle positioned in said bottle filling machine and to mix said water and said syrup in said bottle.

10. A cooling unit comprising a conduit for a liquid to be cooled, a4 conduit for refrigerant, said conduits being in juxtaposition to facilitate heat transfer therebetween, a reservoir for the cooled liquid, a float in said reservoir, metering valve means for controlling the Iiow of said liquid through the unit, and means interconnecting said iioat and said valve means so that said valve means progressively and continuously varies the rate of-vow ofsaid liquid through the unit in accordancewith the position of said float.

11. Inja cooling unit having a reservoir and an inlet conduit communicating with said reservoir, a metering tube having a plurality of apertures in the walls thereof, one end ofsaid tube being connected to the Vinlet conduit and the other'end being in communication with= said reservoir, a

,valveclosure positioned in said other "end and cznstructedfo move along :saidtubetherebv closing certain of said apertures, a float in said reservoir, and link means interconnecting said oat and said valve closure to control the position of said valve closure in accordance with the level of liquid in said reservoir whereby to control the flow 5 of liquid through the unit.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a rst cooling unit, means for circulating water to be cooled therethrough, a second cooling unit, means for circulating syrup to be cooled therethrough, and a common refrigerant system effecting the cooling of both cooling units, said refrigerant system including means for proportioning the delivery of refrigerant to said cooling units, and a common back pressure valve for controlling the refrigerant temperature within said cooling units.

HARRY G. MOJONNIER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 2,107,053 Coons Feb. 1, 1938 2,267,568 Kleucker Dec. 23, 194]. 2,389,106 Marshall Nov. 13, 1945 2,405,448 Ritter Aug. 6, 1946 

